Hora Mortis Nostrae (pt 6)

Ahhh, life is good. I've got a cute boy in my bed, and in 2 weeks when he leaves, I'll have another cute boy waiting in the wings. Maybe.

See, a few days ago, Wsb and I were cruising around listening to his favorite Arctic Monkeys album, and we ran out of cigarettes. When you're 16, getting cigarettes becomes an art form. I called up several of my 18+ friends and finally, one of them could help me out. We'll call him Mexicanhipsterboy.

So Wsb and I go to meet Mhb in the park to get the pack, and it turns out that Mhb had brought his buddy Almostexsistensialboy along. Since we all had nothing better to do, we ended up hanging out for a few hours. It was pretty fun, aside from having to listen to Aeb spew bullshit about quantum physics and his views of the universe for about 20 minutes straight.

Then, yesterday, I went to hang out with Aeb and Mhb at the same park for a little while, and things became very awkward, because I became the center of a hit-on battle. I guess they both like me a little more than they should and don't realize that I'm basically dating Wsb already. So I sat between them, smoking their menthols, listening to them try to one-up each other for about an hour. Awk, so very awk.

Mhb has had a thing for me for years, and that's never gonna happen. But Aeb is cute and has some potential, and aside from being a philosophical idiot, is fairly interesting. So we'll see where that one goes. As for me, I'm going to hang out with Wsb as much as I can before he leaves, because he's much more interesting and adorable than Mhb and Aeb combined.

Now! Back to the story!
Recap: Felix and Jesus have hit some easier floors to get through, outsmarting three more of Kale's pets. After outwitting Tusk and sacrificing all of his material possessions for the sake of the mission, Felix has finally gained some confidence in his ability to battle the pets.

Part Six

We paused, looking triumphant, though no one could see us. The feelings of overwhelming victory began to fade as I wondered if the last few floors had been just a little too easy. Things were about to become much more serious. I felt dread begin to swell in the pit of my stomach as Jesus and I climbed the staircase.

As the sixth door came into view, I bit down and tightened my jaw. It was this room, and then one more, no giving up now. I could do that, yeah?

I could still do this.
Right?

I turned to Jesus, the question obvious in my gaze. He looked straight into my eyes and answered:
Right.
He pushed open the door.


We stepped into an edible world. I instantly thought of Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka, ready to sing and eat everything in sight. Before us lay a banquet table, absolutely piled high with food. The table itself, along with the plush-looking chairs appeared to be edible as well. Even the tiles on the floored looked tasty, like slabs of molten sugar.

“Ahhhh! How nice of you to join us!” said a loud, booming voice from the head of the table. A large, though not round man sat at the head, arms spread wide in welcome.

“I am Cenny, and I’ve prepared a grand meal for you. Sit down, relax, have something to eat. Let us feast today!” He continued and gestured towards the rows of chairs on either side of the banquet table.

Jesus and I exchanged a cynical glance. No other pet had been so welcoming. We sat down across from one another at the opposite end of the banquet table. I looked at the sumptuous platters and crocks that lay upon the table and realized that none of the food was recognizably familiar, though it all looked fantastic.

There appeared to be dumplings and plates of meat, but I couldn’t tell what sort of meat it was that lay in its own juices before me. I turned to Jesus, pursing my lips. We had been a long way and hadn’t stopped for food nor water the entire way. If we only ate a little bit, we wouldn’t be gluttons, right?

I eyed the full wine glass to the left of my plate. Its deep red contents glinted in the warm glow of the room.

“Don’t wait around, let’s dig in!” Cenny proclaimed. He looked at us expectantly. I shakily picked up my fork and cast my attention towards the platter of meat in front of me. I scooped up a forkful of sinewy, darkish meat and transferred it to my own plate. I looked up and saw Jesus do the same, but with a crock of what looked like liver.

I looked at the pile of stringy flesh on my plate, then at the liver on Jesus’s plate. It looked inviting, even appetizing, despite being obscure. I was an adventurous eater, and I knew that new foods could be absolutely amazing.

I glanced at the liver on Jesus’s plate once more, scrutinizing it. It looked very large, too large to be a chicken, sheep, or cow’s liver. Further scrutiny revealed that the liver was beginning to gray on one end.

Cirrhosis.
Only humans drink enough alcohol to cause cirrhosis.


I wonder if there are fava beans and a nice chianti on the table, too, I thought fleetingly to myself.

I looked back at my plate and my stomach twisted itself into a tight, thoroughly disgusted knot. I had almost taken a mouthful of human muscle strands. I glanced around table and glimpsed gall bladders, cochleae, what appeared to be brain matter tossed with intestines, like a salad, and a bobbing eyeball in one of the wine glasses, which I now assumed were filled with blood.

Jesus had cut himself a bite sized piece of liver and was just about to bring his for to his lips when I shouted at him.

“Stop!! It’s humans. It’s all human flesh! Don’t eat it!” My stomach clenched as I proclaimed aloud the horrific realization I had come to. Jesus narrowed his gaze and stared hard at the piece of liver on his fork, then his eyes widened in horror.

“Oh, won’t you please start eating, I’m so very hungry,” Cenny boomed.
Jesus and I both looked at him in horror. His grin began to widen as his mouth stretched wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp, shark-like teeth. His eyes darkened and he slammed his fists on the table. “I’m HUNGRY!”

He pressed his fists down on the table, pushing himself up, rising slowly from his chair. I realized how large Cenny was, drawing himself up to his full height, he towered above the table.

Jesus and I ran for it. I spotted the exit in the far left of the hall, behind Cenny, who was gnashing his teeth and beginning to drool. We bolted for the door, and Cenny ran after us, long, thick arms reaching for his next meal.

“HUNGRY!” He roared as Jesus barely escaped his grasping hand. Terror rang through me like a splash of freezing water. I felt like prey, like food. I was going to be eaten alive. I couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to be torn limb from limb in the in the jaws of another. Fear wracked my body as my animal instincts began to take over.

We kept running, pushing faster and faster, until we finally reached the exit door, with Cenny closing in fast. I tried to push the door open, but it stuck.


My lungs tightened to a stop.
Oh no, not now, not this, not this! I heaved my entire body against the door, but it wouldn’t budge. I did it again, thrusting out with my palms. Still, nothing. I backed up, feeling Cenny’s ominous shadow beginning to fall over me as he approached, and ran forward, slamming myself into the door.

It wrenched open, and Jesus and I tumbled out and onto the stairwell landing. I looked up and saw nothing but rows and rows of Cenny’s teeth closing down before the door slammed shut behind us, keeping the cannibalistic monster at bay.


Jesus stood up shakily, breathing hard. I stood as well, grasping the hand-rail on the stairs for support. We both stared at the closed door behind us in terror as we caught our breath.

Cenny had been the most monstrous beast we’d yet encountered, even worse than Polly. Polly may have made me bleed, but what she did to me didn’t cause the sheer, primal horror that the possibility of getting eaten alive did. And to think, I’d almost eaten human flesh.

I gagged.

Jesus grasped my shoulder.
“We’ve got to move on. Got your breath back?” He asked. I nodded. We climbed the stairs and looked upon our penultimate door, door number seven. It was the final task before we could see Kale and deliver the message.

We’d outsmarted, outperformed, and outran six of these fearsome little beasties. We could do it again.

As the final battle, I knew that what lay behind this door would be some new terror, some fresh Hell. The most challenging, most mind-fucking task yet.

I glanced at Jesus by my side, smirked, and pushed open the door.
“Bring it on.”


The smell hits me first. The room I have just entered smells like cigarettes, espresso, and the girl that I lost my virginity to. I’d know that cheap perfume anywhere. I step forward onto plush, dark carpet.

The expanse that has unfolded before us is quite luxurious. There is a huge, four poster, double king-sized bed In the center of one wall, with rose petals strewn over the duvet cover and way too many pillows against the headboard. Nestled next to the bed is a bedside table that holds only a bowl full of vibrators. Yes, vibrators, in every size, shape, and color imaginable. In a bowl. Like candy.

Across from the giant bed is a fireplace with a large bearskin rug stretched out in front of it. On the far wall of the room is a large, black X with handcuffs. Next to it, hanging on the wall, is an assortment of whips, switches, chains, clubs, collars, ropes, and hoods.

In a corner, there is a walled-off changing area, presumably for costumes, and in another are an armchair, ottoman, and chaise-lounge.

Lying on the chaise-lounge in black silk wrap-around robe and black stilettos is the most seductive woman that I have ever seen. Her shiny black hair tumbled down over her shoulder, sweeping over perfectly-formed breasts. Though she is covered, her curves and details can be clearly seen, pressed against the glossy black silk.

She raises her heavily-lidded eyes and begins to speak:
“Well, hello there, boys. “ Her voice is like Jenna Jameson’s, but deeper, huskier… sexier. “My name is Molly, and I’d like to show you two a good time.” She smiles coyly and rises.

She walks right past me and up to Jesus, who looks as if he is seriously questioning his sexuality. She gently strokes the back of his neck with one hand while whispering something in his ear, pressing her breasts up on his chest as she speaks. She smiles that coy smile again and grabs his wrist, leading him over to the large X.

Quickly, she handcuffs him to the X, and blindfolds him. She runs her hand down his torso and brushes over his crotch before turning, and simply leaving him there. Now, her gaze is on me, and she’s walking towards the bed.

She sits on the mattress and beckons me. Like the hormonally-controlled idiot man I am, I go. I sit on the mattress. She crawls to me and whispers in my ear “Listen, I’m going to change into something you’ll like. Stay right here, baby, I’ll just be a second.” And she playfully nibbles my earlobe before slinking off the bed and behind the screen in the closed of changing area.

I can see her silhouette outlined clearly in the screen. As she removes the robe and reveals her, cough, perks, I can feel my pulse begin to quicken. She pulls something on, then bends over for a while, then stands again and runs her hands through hair.

Gabrielle steps out from behind the screen in in the laciest black negligee I have ever seen. In the back of my mind, I faintly wonder where Molly went and how Gabrielle got here, but Gabrielle begins to walk towards me and all that I can focus on is the crest of her beautiful, round breasts as they bounce with each step she takes and her hands, one running through her hair, the other caressing her stomach, hips, and eventually toying with the waistline of her black, lacy panties.

She walks straight up to me, still perched on the side of the bed, and gently grabs the back of neck, leaning her face in and kissing me just below my jawline. The kiss sends a tingle down my spine. Her handle travels up into my hair, where it winds itself in as she continues to plant little kisses up and down my neck and along my collar bone.

“Gabrielle…” I whisper, intending to say more, to question this entire ridiculous situation, but trailing off as her other hand traces its way up my inner thigh, stroking the growing bulge in my pants. I sigh, overcome, with the biological part of my brain silencing the logical part, and my thoughts can only process the superficial touches and sensations that Gabrielle is creating.

Suddenly, she pulls off my shirt and pushes me backwards so that I’m lying on the bed. She climbs on top of me, strattling me, and leans down, planting tiny kisses up and down my torso. I try to move my arms to pull her closer to me, but she pins them above my head and begins to work her way down my body again.

I feel her smooth skin press to mine, warm and inviting. As she makes her way south, my eyes roll back with pleasure and I close my eyes, surrendering to her touch and allowing myself to feel everything that she is doing to me.

Gabrielle presses herself down onto me, putting pressure on every sensitive area. I look down and see her unbutton my pants with her teeth. She slides back up my body and looks me deep in the eyes, as if asking me for permission to continue. I stare into her dark, sensuous eyes and think “Yes, oh God, yes.” She strokes my hair, caressing my torso, her hand traveling downward ever so slightly, her deep, dark, smoldering eyes still locked with mine.

A logical thought bursts through the wall of biological intent, and it occurs to me:

Gabrielle’s eyes aren’t dark.
They’re clear grey with golden tinting around the iris.
The woman whose hand is inching towards my cash and prizes is not Gabrielle.

I blink rapidly, and when my eyes finally open, Molly is on top of me, looking about ready to literally fuck me until I die.

I yank her hand out of my pants and shove her off of me, throwing her to the floor. I button my fly, disgusted at what I almost let this demoness do to me. I walk over to Jesus and uncuff him, removing his blindfold.

“Let’s go.” I say darkly. Jesus looks around, taking in the scene. He stops and stares at something over my shoulder. I turn and see Molly crumpled on the ground, a trickle of blood rolling down her forehead. I suppose I threw her off of me much harder than I intended to.

Jesus looks at my shirtless torso, looks at Molly, struggling to get up, and tunrs back to me.

“Felix, you idiot,” he hisses. “You just committed a sin. Wrath. We have got to get out of here before they notice and send us back to the beginning!” My eyes widen in horror as I realize what I have done.

I grab Jesus’s arm and pull him towards the exit. I push open the door and glance behind me. Molly is standing, a single trickle of blood framing the left side of her face. She looks into my eyes with such hatred that my stomach twists. I turn and drag Jesus out the door, leaving Molly to her toys.

In the stairwell, the lights had gone out.
“Shit!” Jesus exclaimed. “They know what you did. Run!” We run like mad up the stairs, but the walls begin to close in on us. Hands and arms sprout from the stairs behind us and grab at our feet.

The building is trying to drag us back to floor one.
“No.” I say through my clenched jaw. I grit my teeth and run, pulling Jesus along. “I have come too far to go back now.”

A hand reaches up rips at the hem of Jesus’s robes. I can see the final door; the door to floor eight. I can see it, just ahead. With one final burst of determination, I lunge at the door and tumble through it, carrying Jesus with me.

We squabble on the floor, trying to untangle our limbs and get our bearings. Suddenly, we hear a deep, threatening voice, and we freeze.

“What the Hell are you doing?”



Next time, the thrilling conclusion :D
Julia